Golf ball retriever



March 13, 1956 Filed Jul)r 7, 1950 M. G. ZIMMERS GOLF BALL RETRIEVER 2 SheetsShee 1. 1

March 13, 1956 M. G. ZIMMERs GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Sheets-sheer 2 Filed July 7, 1950 .United States Patent() GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Mildred G. Zimmers, Chicago, lll. Application July 7, 1950, Serial No. 172,601

7 Claims. (Cl. 294-49) This invention pertains generally to means for retrieving an object having a curved surface and, more particularly, to a device for retrieving a golf ball.

While the invention concepts present in the device make it applicable to retrieving spherical and similarly shaped objects generally, it is especially well adapted for retrieving golf balls from water, ravines, rough, etc., and will be described in that connection. Among the objects of the invention are to provide a convertible ball retriever which selectively may be established as a rakelike structure or as a scoop or clipper, with the device being maintained in either selected position at the will of the user; to provide for easy entry of a golf ball into the retriever by reason of the shape and relative position of the lingers of the device; to provide a device which will surround the ball and pick it out from a muddy bed without stirring up the mud and water; and to provide such a device which will retain the ball in the device once it is engaged therein without requiring any particular manipulation or inclination of the handle; and to provide a device with the foregoing advantages which includes an extensible handle permitting the user to retrieve a golf ball which is located at a considerable distance from the golfer.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of the invention will become apparent or be obvious from the following consideration of the drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, with the telescoping handle being indicated fragmentarily, showing one form of the ball retrieving device of my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device of Figure v1, looking in the direction of the varrows 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, with the handle deleted, showing a modified form of the ball retrieving device of my invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 4 in contracted position, with one of the side arms broken away;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification of the device of my invention shown in eX- panded, rake-like position;

Figure 8 is a View similar to that of Figure 7 but showing the device in contracted position to provide a ball scoop;

Figure 9 is a View looking upwardly from beneath the device shown in Figure 7;

Figure l0 is a front elevation looking into the open end of the device as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the device of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 13--13 of Figure 9;

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Figure 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the same line of the device when in its contracted position; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the retriever illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Turning first to Figures l through 3, it will be seen that the retrieving device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, includes a handle portion 12 which includes a telescoping extension 14 to the end of which are connected a pair of downwardly curved iingers 16, 16, the free ends 18 of which curve rearwardly in the general direction of the handle 12. If desired, the outermost portion of the free ends 18 may curve upwardly toward the handle 12 as indicated in dotted lines at 2l). At the central portion and free ends of the lingers 16, the fingers are spaced apart a distance which is somewhat less than the diameter of a golf ball, so that a ball will tend to seat between the iingers and be held against lateral displacement. To further assist in preventing lateral displacement of a retrieved ball from the fingers 16, there are provided a pair of side members 22 which extend downwardly from the same end `or" the handle 12 and which are spaced laterally outwardly, one on each side of the pair of fingers 16. The side members 22 are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of a golf ball.

lt will be observed, particularly from Figure 3, that the outermost ends i3 of the fingers 16 have surfaces which are directed toward each other, as indicated at 24, to assist in forming a seat or lsocket for a ball. The surfaces 24 may be curved even more toward each other, if desired. Their purpose is to assist the fingers in partially encompassing a ball, suchv as the ball 26, which may be seated between the fingers 16. Preferably the curved surfaces 24 are not brought too closely adjacent each other, since, in retrieving the ball, it is desired to have the ball enter the ball engaging end of the device 10 by drawing the tips 18 of the fingers 16 underneath the ball. Then, with a slight upward movement, the ball will be seated between the lingers, and within the curved surfaces 24 of the tips 18. When so engaged, the ball does not need to be drawn along the bottom of a river bed, or the like, or along the ground, but may be lifted up. By forming the ends or tips 18 of the fingers 16 as shown at 24, it is even possible to incline the handle 12 in such a fashion that the tips 18 are directed downwardly without the ball being discharged from the lingers. With the lingers 16 formed in that manner, it will be readily seen that the user of this device has great latitude in the amount to which he can elevate the ball by the handle without the ball dropping therefrom.

While the fingers 16 and side members 22 could be formed integrally with the end of handle 12, or its extension 14, it is preferred to have them formed with a connecting portion 28 which is fixed by one non-rotatable end in a socket, such as the socket 27.

Figures 4 through 6 provide a modification of the structure shown in Figures l through 3, whereby the structure is converted from a compact retriever into an expanded and much wider retriever, so that a ball lost in muddy water or in grass or under bushes may be more readily encountered. As may be readily seen from Figure 4, the ball will be trapped when it cornes in contact with the retriever anywhere along its extended open face between the end members 22 and will be fed into position between a pair of fingers 16, and may then be lifted up as referred to above in describing the device of Figures l through 3. The manner in which the device of Figures 4 through 6 is expanded consists in forming the connecting member 28fof a pair of plates 29 and 29 which are spaced apart at their free ends to provide a guide structure or guide slot '30. "Inserts or spacers "32 at the free end of the connecting portion 23 are riveted into position to provide the guide 30.

A pair of fingers 16 is shown connected to the upper plate 29 of the connecting member 28, and the fingers are shaped and positioned apart in the same manner as shown in Figures l through 3. However, it would bepossible, as will be readily apparent from the following description, that in place of the two spaced apart fingers 16, there might be substituted a single finger extending centrally from the upper plate 29 of the connectingportion 28. That single lfinger would then be adapted to lie between the two movable fingers'l' in the same manner as the fingers 16 lie between fingers 16'. The movable fingers 16' each have an arm 34 which is substantially at right angles to its finger 16' and substantially at right angles to the axis of the handle 12. The upper and lower arms 34 slide in the guide structure 30 and lie adjacent each other, as may be readily seen from Figures 5 and 6. Each arm carries a headed pin 36, the upper pin .36 riding in a slot 38 of the upper plate 29 of the connecting portion 2S, and the lower headed pin 36 riding in a slot '38 of the lower plate 29 of the connecting portion 28. 'It will be readily seen that the length of the slot, together with the pins riding therein and carried by the arms 34, determine the degree of expansion and contraction of the movable fingers 16'. It will be apparent that each arm 34 might accommodate more than a single finger 16'.

The movable fingers 16' are held in their various positions by friction between the arms 34 and the plates 29 and 29', and, when the fingers 16' are in their contracted position, they lie more closely adjacent to the first menvtioned pair of fingers 16, and may, as shown, be adapted to lie directly behind said first mentioned pair of fingers. Side members 22, like those shown in Figures l through '3, are connected with the arms 34 and movablefingers From the foregoing it will be seen that the retrieving device may be an extended rake-like structure adapted to hold a ball, or, at the users election, may be a rake-like structure of limited width, which in effect becomes a ball scoop or dipper.

In Figures 7 through 14 there is illustrated another modified form of my invention wherein the ball retrieving device may be either an extended rake-like structure, with the fingers and side members formed as described above with respect to Figures l through 3, or may become a ball scoop or dipper by reason of the hinged connection of some fingers with respect to others.

It will be seen that a pair of fingers 16, or a single centrally located finger, if desired, has a hinged connection 40 with the connecting portion 28 which is connected to the end of the handle 12, or to its telescoping extension 14, and thatthe movable fingers 16 are hingedly connected, as at 42, 42, on opposite sides of the first mentioned pair of fingers 16 by arms 34. The arms 34 are substantially at right angles to the fingers at either ends of the arms, and all of the fingers are shaped in the same manner and for the same purpose as set forth above in describing the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 through 3. In the expanded position, as shown in Figures 7, 9 and 11, the fingers 16 and 16' are generally parallel to Aeach other, and form a rake-like structure, with the side vmembers 22 being connected to the arms 34 as described above 4with respect to Figures 4 through 6. The hinged'connections 42 may incorporate a known form of spring (not shown), which urges the movable fingers 16' and the arms 34 toward the contracted position vof the structure as shown in Figures 8, 'and l2. If desired, a similar spring `arrangement-.may beincoiporated in thehingedconneetion 40 between the pair voffirirgers 16 andtheconnectingzmember 28 ,to Vurgethe latter .elements toward the lposition they occupy when the 'device is in its contracted position.

As may be seen from Figures 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14,

-"there "are spurs, 'or extensions, 44 carried on each arm 34, which extend beyond the hinged connection 42. Each of the spurs 44 may also have a foot portion 46. The ends of the spurs 44 and their respective feet 46 are adapted to bear against the connecting member 28 when the movable fingers 16 are in their contracted position, as shown in Figures 8, lO, =12and 14, and thereby serve to cock the ball scoop structure, consisting of the fingers 16 and 16', together with the end members 22 at an angle different from that existing when the fingers and arms are in their expanded position .to form a rake-like structure. With the device in the ball scoop position, wherein the scoop structure is inclined with respect to the handle in such a fashion that the plane of the open part of the ball scoop is at an angle greater than with respect to the axis of the handle, it is easier to employ the ball scoop structure in retrieving a ball. The tips of the side members 22 are adapted to engage each other, as at 43 in .Figure 12, when the device reaches the desired ball scoop position.

As may be best seen from Figure 13, when the ball retrieving device is in its expanded or rake-like position, the spurs 44 are positioned between the connecting member 28 and the hinged ends of the fingers 16. If the spurs carry feet 46, as shown (and such feet are preferred in order to form a better bearing against the connecting member 28 when the structure is in the ball scoop position), it is necessary to provide a space for the feet 46 to extend through between the fingers 16. To this end, a cutout portion 48 between the fingers 16 is provided, andthe feet 46 extend therethrough as may be seen in Figure 13.

To hold the ball retrieving device in either of the two positions which the user selects, means is provided for `manually retaining the device either in a rake-like posi- `of the slide 52 is offset as at 58, and has a forward end adapted to overlie the rear, or hinged end, of the fingers 16 to hold the structure in the rake-like position by over lying the spurs 44, or to hold the device in the ball scoop position by overlying the feet 46 of the spurs 44, as may be best seen in Figure 14.

It will be appreciated that other means may be employed for selectively positioning and holding the ball retrieving device in the extended rake-like position or in the ball scoop position.

Figure l5 illustrates a modified :form of the retrieving device of Figures l, 2 and 3 in that it is adapted to ;be connected to the end of any golf club handle in place ofhaving a handle of its own. It may therefore be carriedin the users pocket or in the pocket of a golf bag for easy attachment to the handle end of any golf club to convert the club to a ball retriever. Accordingly, the connecting portion 28', from which the fingers 16 extend downwardly, has at its other end a pair of curved resilient arms60 having a diameter less than the diameter of a golf club handle adjacent its end, so that the :handle may be forced between the resilient arms 60 and .begripped at its periphery by said arms, The ,arms .60,

,golf club handle.

While I have illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention, l do not intend to be limited thereto, except insofar as the following claims are so limited, since vari- `the general direction of the handle, a pair of similarly formed movable fingers, each finger of the similarly formed pair of fingers having Van arm and said arms being hingedly connected to opposite sides of said first mentioned fingers for movement of said movable fingers from positions wherein they are in spaced apart generally parallel positions with respect to said first mentioned fingers, whereby a rake-like structure is provided, to contracted positions wherein they extend transversely with respect to the free end of said first mentioned fingers to form a ball scoop, and a side member connected with each movable finger for assisting in retaining a ball against lateral displacement with respect to said group of fingers when said movable fingers are in spaced apart generally parallel position and for assisting in the formation of the ball scoop when the movable fingers are in contracted position.y

2.The device of claim l wherein the tips of said side members are adapted to engage each other to limit further movement When the movable fingers have been rotated to the desired contracted position.

3. The device of claim 1 together with a manually operable retaining member connected with said one end of the handle and adapted selectively to retain said movable fingers in either their spaced apart positions or their contracted positions.

4. A golf ball retrieving device comprising a handle portion, a connecting portion on one end of said handle portion, at least one finger hingedly connected with said connecting portion and directed downwardly therefrom, a pair of movable fingers each having an arm, said movable fingers being hingedly connected by their respective arms to opposite sides of the first mentioned finger adjacent the hinged end of the latter, said arms being disposed substantially at right angles to the fingers which are at either end of each arm, said pair of movable fingers in one hinged position being adapted to be in spaced apart generally parallel positions with respect to the first mentioned finger to form a rake-like structure and, in a second hinged position, being adapted to extend crosswise with respect to said first mentioned finger to form a ball scoop, a spur on each arm extending to the other side of the hinged connection of its arm with said first mentioned finger, said spurs in said second hinged position of the pair vof fingers bearing against said connecting portion and positioning said ball scoop structure with the plane of its open side at a greater than 90 angle with respect to the axis of said handle, and arretaining member connected with said one end of the handle portion, for selectively retaining the movable fingers in either of their hinged positions.

5. A golf ball retrieving device comprising a telescopic handle, a connecting portion on one end of said handle portion, a plurality of fingers'hingediy connected with said connecting portion and directed downwardly therefrom, a pair of movable fingers each having an arm, said latter fingers being hingedly connected by their respective arms to opposite sides of the rst mentioned fingers adjacent the hinged end of the latter, said arms being disposed substantially at right angles to the fingers which are at either end of each arm, said pair of movable fingers in one hinged position being adapted to be in spaced apart generally parallel positions with repect to the first mentioned fingers to form a rake-like structure, and in a second hinged position being adapted to extend crosswise with respect to said rst mentioned fingers to form a ball scoop, a side member connected with each movable finger to form means for assisting in retaining a ball against lateral displacement with respect to said group of fingers when the fingers are in spaced apart generally parallel positions, said side members assisting said lingers when in the second hinged position to provide the ball scoop, the free ends of all of said ngers being curved rearwardly in the general direction of the handle when in spaced apart generally parallel position and with the free ends having surfaces directed toward each other to assist in retaining a golf Aball between adjacent fingers, a spur on each arm extending to the other side of the hinged connection of the arm, said spurs in said second hinged position of the pair of movable fingers bearing against said connecting portion and positioning the ball scoop structure with the plane of its open side at a greater than angle with respect to the axis of said handle, and a manually operable retaining Vmember connected with said one end of the handle and adapted selectively to retain said movable fingers in either the first or second hinged positions.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the spurs, in the spaced apart position of the movable fingers, lie between the first mentioned fingers and the connecting portion.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the hinged connections of the movable fingers include a spring member resiliently urging the movable fingers toward the second hinged position of said fingers.

References Cited in the fle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 322,948 Mellinger July 28, 1885 531,722 Hart Ian. 1, 1895 647,724 McCoy Apr. 17, 1900 1,272,567 Swan July 16, 1918 `1,372,558 Saxl Mar. 22, 1921 1,607,037 Barnes Nov. 16, 1926 2,110,538 Walsh Mar. 8, 1938 2,432,906 Klingler Dec. 16, 1947 2,538,325 Pfeier Ian. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,225 Sweden Sept. 14, 1907 194,116 Switzerland Nov. 30, 1937 194,429 Canada Dec. 2, 1919 

